The immediate focus will be on illegal miners currently desecrating water bodies through their nefarious activities.

“As for those mining in water bodies, that is a no, no. They will be the first point of focus in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey,” the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Commission, Dr Toni Aubynn, noted.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra, Dr Aubynn said he was not in a position to state the exact date security services would hit the ground but gave an assured that it would be “soon”.

He said enforcement of the laws was the next step after the ultimatum by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Peter Amewu, elapsed on Wednesday, April 19, 2017.

Dr Aubynn noted that it was clear the issue of illegality stemmed largely from the lack of enforcement of the laws.

According to him, officials from his outfit had sent several letters requesting District Security Committees to clamp down on illegal miners, all to no avail.

Alternative measures

The Minerals Commission CEO noted that clamping down on illegal mining was also “to be done in a way that we will put in alternative measures”.

“So under the Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP), we are looking at four key areas. The first is to ensure that laws of mining are properly enforced.”

That initiative, Dr Aubynn said, would ensure that legal miners were properly supervised.

The MMIP is also expected to apply technology to ensure that those using heavy equipment such as excavators are properly accounted for.

“We are also going to insert tracking devices in those machines so that through a Global Positioning System (GPS), we can track to make sure miners use those equipment at a place they are mandated to use them,” Dr Aubynn noted.

Digitisation of cadastral maps

The Minerals Commission boss said all mining concessions were being digitised to mining activities and revenues and added that the exercise would pave the way for online application for mining concessions to enhance transparency and efficiency.

Alternative livelihoods

Dr Aubynn admitted that workers in illegal mining sites would lose their source of livelihood through the clampdown, but indicated that plans were afoot to get them engaged in other alternative jobs.

He listed some of the opportunities as employment for reclamation of destroyed lands.

Dr Aubynn said the commission would also give out some of its plantations to prospective bidders.

He said those affected by the clampdown could also take advantage of the President’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.

“People are making millions from farming and with the use of modern equipment, it is possible to become rich through farming,” Dr Aubynn stressed and added: “We should all not be mining. It is not the only way to survive. Minerals can be exhausted in the long run.”